Ps Rob from Bayside Church gave an excellent sermon last week. He’s been doing a series titled “Church Without Walls” and educating the congregation about the value of our going out into community and the workplace and being a light to the world on a daily basis. That being a Christian does not stop inside the church walls but extends far beyond that.
Last week it was session 12 with an emphasis on ‘work’. He shared how God has given us gifts which help demonstrate our creative abilities in many ways – and that we should be using those gifts on a regular basis. That these gifts can be employed in all of our lives including through the workplace.
Ps Rob prompted us to consider that every gift is a spiritual gift, that every gift is vital, that every gift is unique because it’s filtered through our own personalities and what makes us, us and he asked us to think about what were we made for?
I know that answer for me and I also know it took me over 30 years to find that answer. I have a daughter who is very blessed at the age of 23 to know that answer and she has known it for a long time. But do you know the answer for you?
Ps Rob then explained the difference between a job and a vocation.
Job = what you get paid to do
Vocation = what you are here to achieve. It’s where your gifts meet the world and it’s your calling in life.
Now, for some, job and vocation are exactly the same thing – I know it is for me. But what about you? Are you working a job you don’t enjoy and you’re just doing it for the money? Or is it something you were called to do?
If we are made in God’s image (and we know that is the case) then we are called to work and were indeed made for work. There are heaps of instructions in the bible that tell us to work with diligence, to work for our boss like we are working for the Lord, that hard work is commanded (Eccl 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”), that hard work is satisfying and that there is a balance between working too hard and not working enough.
Ps Rob finished up with information about the ant and the sloth and seemed to delight in saying the word ’sluggard’ often to drive the point home. Prov 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
A little saying for you which I thought excellent:
Let me ask you another question, before you answer the first one.
Are you a fulltime Christian?
If the answer to the second question is a resounding ‘yes’ then the answer to the first question should be the same.
And yet many people equate only those who work within church walls as being in fulltime ministry. This could not be further from the truth.
The senior pastor at my church has been preaching a series on ‘church without walls’ for a few months now. He has been teaching the congregation how important it is to take with us, as we leave the church building, what we’ve been learning and experiencing and sharing that wherever we go. We have been likened to a great big salt shaker, where God has sprinkled the shaker and each drop of salt has fallen in different places to add flavour to those we mix and mingle with.
Interesting picture that creates. It means that wherever we go on a daily basis, we are responsible for adding flavour to the lives of those around us. Can you truly say you add ‘good flavour’ or are you someone who leaves a bad taste in the mouths of those you have just parted company with?
Our Pastor has been speaking more about Ministry in the Marketplace, reminding all of our church members that they are Ministers in their workplaces. It’s so good to hear everyone being reminded of this. We have been commissioned to go ‘out there’ and minister to others about our faith, about our experiences, about what Jesus has done for those we live and work with on a daily basis.
Perhaps you have no idea what to say or how to say it? Don’t worry about it. We don’t need to be eloquent speakers, practiced in witnessing or preaching. Rather we are charged to just share our own personal experiences. If you are working with someone who is having a challenge in life, think about whether you’ve experienced similar and share your experience with them. Let them see from your own personal experience what choices you made in life and where you are today. Our own life experiences are what others need to know about. Our actions speak louder than words. Just be a friend and a support and encourager. Let God do the rest.
You’ve probably heard of Alpha – many churches run this course. And there’s Marriage Alpha too – I have a couple of friends doing the course currently and my husband and I will be enrolling in the next session early next year.
Today I went to a business breakfast and Jon Seeley, the National Director Alpha Australia spoke and he had some really great stories about how business alpha has touched the lives of people in their workplaces. Jon has had an interesting life and been in lots of places and has faced the same question that many Christians in business face – am I supposed to be in ministry in the church, or in the workplace? Like me, he’s recognised his ministry is in the workplace and after two separate approaches, finally agreed to become the National Director of Alpha Australia.
Until today I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do an Alpha course for business – I do get to mix and mingle, network and fellowship with a lot of Christians but Jon’s talk showed me clearly that there are people out there that I can reach out to through Business Alpha. Bayside Church in Cheltenham, Victoria, will be hosting a training session on Saturday November 17th and I’ll be attending. It will be a half day session. If you happen to live close enough to this area and would like to learn about Business Alpha also, why not join us on that day – please contact me so I can get you listed for attendance. In the meantime, I thought I’d share with you their delightful Factory Viral advert which can be found on Youtube – if you receive this post via email just click on the heading of this post to see the advert on the web.
John 5:17
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working."
My name is Kathie and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up always knowing that God was with me and formally accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was 14 years old. I have had many experiences where God has been involved at my places of work and amongst my work colleagues.
A few years ago I heard the founder of Australian Christian TV speak - I don't remember a lot of his talk but I do remember one particular phrase that has stuck with me ever since. He said "Whatever your passion is, that's your vision" . It struck a chord with me and I realised that the very things that made me passionate are the same things that I do daily in my business, and through those things I know I touch many lives. I believe I am where our Lord wants me to be.
I've recently been reading Faith & Work: Do They Mix? by Os Hillman. Excellent book and it was whilst reading it, I got the idea for this blog - and was pleasantly surprised that this domain was waiting for me to purchase. I will be sharing what I've been learning through reading and research in the hope that it will also provide answers to your searches and prayers. Would love to hear from you. Bless you, KMT
My name is Kathie and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up always knowing that God was with me and formally accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was 14 years old. I have had many experiences where God has been involved at my places of work and amongst my work colleagues.